Historical Moments:
1997: After getting clearance to leave Houston a year early, the team needed to find a
temporary home while construction began on their new stadium in Nashville. Eventually
the Oilers would sign an agreement to play at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
On August 31st the Oilers made their Tennessee debut at the Liberty Bowl by
beating the Oakland Raiders 24-21 in overtime. Highlighting the day was Eddie George
rushed for 216 yards. However the Oilers would lose their next 4 games, as
QB Steve McNair struggled in his first full year as a starter. The Oilers would
recover to win 3 in a row, but finished at 8-8, while alternating wins and losses
in the 2nd half. Playing in Memphis the Oilers would go 6-2 at home, despite
struggling to get more than 30,000 a game. After the season, the Oilers decide
to move again, deciding they are better off playing in Nashville their eventual
home, they sign a deal to play a season on the campus of Vanderbilt University.
1998: The Oilers get off to a slow start playing in Nashville's Vanderbilt Stadium, losing
3 of their first 4 games. However, QB Steve McNair, and Eddie George continued
to develop into All-Pros as the Oilers started to put together wins, in total
taking 7 of 10 to stand at 8-6 in playoff contention with 2 weeks to go. However,
the Oilers would finish at 8-8 again after losing their last 2 games to playoff
teams.
1999: With their new stadium in Nashville finally complete, the team decides to make a
name change to align themselves closer with the people of Tennessee. Playing on
Nashville's Greek influences, the name Titans is chosen exemplifying power, strength,
knowledge and excellence. On September 12th the Titans christen Adelphia
Coliseum in grand style beating the Cincinnati Bengals 36-35 on Al Del Greco's
FG. Adelphia Coliseum would provided just what the team needed, a home field,
and they would take advantage winning all 8 home games, while compiling a 13-3
record, and making the playoff as a Wild Card. Despite finishing 2nd in the AFC
Central the Titans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars twice, handing them their only
losses on the season. Along the way DE Jevon Kearse quickly established himself
as one of the most dominant players on defense collecting 14 sacks, and winning
Defensive Rookie of the Year. In their first playoff game in Tennessee the
Titans host the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round. The Titans held the lead
most of the day, but the Bills rallied, and appeared to have dealt the Titans
a heartbreaking loss by taking a 16-14 lead, with 16 seconds left in the game.
Needing a miracle Frank Wycheck lateraled the kick off to Kevin Dyson who ran the
75-yard for a Touchdown that gave the Titans a 22-16 win, in a play that earned
instant folklore in the NFL, earning the nickname of the "Music City Miracle."
The Titans would go on to upset the Colts in Indianapolis in Divisional 19-16,
as Eddie George rushed for 162 yards, including a key 68-yard TD run. In the
AFC Championship Game the Titans traveled to Jacksonville hoping to beat the
Jaguars for the 3rd time. After falling behind 14-10 in the 3rd Quarter, the Titans
would win the game behind 23 unanswered points 33-14 to advance to the first
Super Bowl in franchise history. Leading the 2nd half surge was QB Steve McNair
who ran for 2 Touchdown scores.
Super Bowl XXXIV: Facing the St. Louis Rams in Atlanta the Titans saw their dreams of a Lombardi trophy
fading trailing 16-0 late in the 3rd Quarter. However, the Titans showed no
quit as Eddie George got them on the board with a TD in the final seconds of
the 3rd Quarter. Although they missed a 2-point conversion the Titans were not
finished yet scoring 10 points in the 4th Quarter to tie the game at 16-16. However,
just after the 2-minute warning the Rams stuck back scoring on a Kurt Warner
73-yard TD pass. Now down 23-16 with less than 2 minutes left the Titans needed
another miracle to get to overtime. Steve McNair drove the Titans down the
field and had them at the 9-yard line with 7 seconds left. There he would have
one last play to tie the game, as he hit WR Kevin Dyson who had an angel for the
endzone, but Dyson was brought down 1-yard short of tying score as time ran
out.
2000: After starting the season with a loss in Buffalo to the Bills the Titans established
themselves as the best team in the AFC by winning 8 straight, and taking over
first place in the AFC Central. However, their winning streak would come to
an end on November 12th with a 24-23 loss to the Baltimore Raves. It was also their
first loss after 13 wins at Adelphia Coliseum. The Titans would lose only
one more game the rest of the season finishing with a 13-3 record, while capturing
Home Field Advantage. In the Divisional Round the Titans faced the Ravens again,
and had many opportunities to take control in the 1st half. However, PK Al
Del Greco had a miserable day missing a FG, and having another block as they
game entered the 4th Quarter tied at 10. The Titans appeared set to take a lead
as Del Greco set up for a chip shot. However, he had another FG blocked, and this
time it was returned 90-yards for a TD as the Ravens took the lead. A few minutes
later the Ravens would salt the game on a Ray Lewis Interception return
that gave them a 24-10 win. Following the game Del Greco, the all time scorer in
franchise history was released.
2001: After losing FB Lorenzo Neal to Free Agency RB Eddie George was left without a lead
blocker, and he was exposed right form the start in a 31-23 loss to the Dolphins
at Adelphia Coliseum. In that game the Titans were not only beat they were
beat up as QB Steve McNair, and RB Eddie George were injured in the game. With
their top stars playing hurt the Titans got off to a 0-3 start. McNair would return
and would have another stellar season passing for 3,350 yards and 21 TD passes.
However, George would struggle with pain all season and would be limited
to 939 yards, as the Titans could never get it going, as their playoff hopes ended
early in a disappointing 7-9 season.
2002: The Titans started the season on a solid note with a 27-24 comeback win over the
Philadelphia Eagles at The Coliseum. However, along the way Jevon Kearse suffered
a foot injury that would force him to miss most of the season. Without Kearse
the Titans looked lost losing their next 4 games. However, the Titans would rebound
to win their next 5 games. After a 1-point loss on the road to the Baltimore
Ravens, the Titans found themselves facing a second straight loss trailing
the New York Giants on the road 29-21 with 9 seconds left in the game, when Steve
McNair hit Frank Wycheck with a 9-yard TD pass. Still needing a 2-point conversion
to force overtime McNair rushed up the middle to knot the game at 29. In
overtime McNair would drive the Titans into Field Goal range where Joe Nedney
hit the game winner for 38 yards out to improve the Titans to 32-29. The win would
spur the Titans on to a strong finish as it started a season ending 5-game
winning streak that enabled the Titans to capture the newly formed AFC South with
a record of 11-5, which also earned them a first round bye. However, the Titans
would not garner any respect form the rest of the league, as they were the
only team not to have a representative earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. Facing the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Playoffs at The Coliseum the Titans would
be put to the test as Eddie George was knocked out of the game early in the 3rd
Quarter with a concussion and QB Steve McNair was playing through badly injured
thumb, as they game went into overtime tied at 31. In overtime the Titans took
the opening kick down the field when Joe Nedney hit a 31-yard FG. However,
as fireworks were celebrating the Titans victory the referees ruled the Steers
had called time out before the kick. On his second attempt Nedney's kick would
sail wide. However the Steelers would be called for running into the kicker giving
Nedney another chance, which he nailed from 26 yards out to send the Titans
to the AFC Championship. Facing the Oakland Raiders on the road with a trip to
the Super Bowl on the line the Titans appeared to be in good shape late in the
first half leading 17-14 on the road. However, 2 costly fumbles deep in Raiders
territory gave the Raiders a 24-17 halftime lead. The Titans would not recover
as the Raiders went on to win the game 41-24.
2003: The Titans started off the season by getting a measure of revenge against the Oakland
Raiders winning an exciting opener in primetime 25-20. After splitting their
next 4 games the Titans ran off a 6-game winning streak as QB Steve McNair made
the Titans one of the top offenses in the NFL with 7 of their first 10 games
scoring at least 30 points, despite playing with consistent pain through a variety
of injuries. The injuries would catch up to McNair as he missed 2 of the
last 3 games after the Titans hopes of winning the division title were lost in
a 29-27 loss to the Colts at the Coliseum in Week 14. Nonetheless the Titans would
have a successful season getting into the playoffs as a Wild Card with a solid
12-4 record as Steve McNair shared NFL MVP honors with Colts QB Peyton Manning.
In the playoffs the Titans battled the Baltimore Ravens in a classic nail
bitter as both McNair and Eddie George battling injury had solid games as the Titans
got the road upset 20-17 with a 46-yard Game Winning Field Goal by Gary Anderson
in the final minute. However things would prove tougher the following week
as the Titans traveled to Foxboro where they were met by temperatures near
0 degrees in against the New England Patriots. Battling the cold and pain McNair
had another solid game passing for over 200 yards as the game was tied at 14
in the 4th Quarter. After the Pats took a 17-14 lead with 4:11 left in the game.
The Titans had one more chance to tie the game or pull off the upset. However
the drive died at midfield as did the Titans season. The off-season would prove
turbulent for the Titans as Eddie George and Jevon Kearse were forced to be let
go do to salary cap concerns while Frank Wycheck was forced to retire due to
continued concussion problems.
2004: The new look Titans would start the season earlier then expected when a coming Hurricane
move in Miami moved their season opener from Sunday to Saturday, the early
start would not effect the Titans who shut down the Dolphins for a solid 17-7
win. However wins would not come easy as they dropped their next 3 games as
QB Steve McNair suffered through a season of nagging injuries that would limit
it to just 8 games and have him contemplating retirement. Without their MVP McNair
it seemed as if the air had been let out of the balloon as the Titans endured
a disappointing 5-11 season their worst since moving to Tennessee. After the
disappointing season the Titans continued to make a youth movement as several
key players including Samari Rolle, Kevin Carter and Andre Dyson were let go.
2005: Coming off a disappointing season the Titans got off to a rocky start as they were
pounded in Week 1 by the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-7. They would recover to win
their home opener a week later against the Baltimore Ravens 25-10. However, there
would be more days like Week 1 as the season went on as the Titans struggled
all year with one of the worst defenses in the NFL, while the body of QB Steve
McNair continued to break down. As the season wore on back up Billy Volek would
see more and more playing time as rumors circulated that Steve McNair might actually
retire. The Titans would go on to finish in 3rd Place with a 4-12 record,
their worst since moving to Tennessee. Following the season the Titans rebuilding
continued as they drafted Rose Bowl Hero Vince Young out of Texas, while
rudely showing Steve McNair the door by first not allowing him to use the team's
practice facility, before eventually trading him to the Baltimore Ravens.
2006: When the season began the Titans were a team looking toward the future as they were
not expected to make a run for the playoffs, while the fans anticipated when
QB Vince Young the 3rd overall pick would get his chance to play. Young would
play sparingly in the first two games, before finally getting his chance to start
in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys. Young and the Titans would lose that game
45-14, as they got off to a 0-5 start. Young got his first win in Week 6 against
the Washington Redskins, as the Titans overcame a 14-3 deficit, to win the
game 25-22, before returning home the following week to beat the Houston Texans
28-22. However, there were still growing pains for the young Titans as they
dropped their next two games and fell to 2-7. The Titans though would not end the
season quietly as they stunned the Philadelphia Eagles 31-13 on the road, using
the big play to win the games, as a 70-yard run by Travis Henry and a 90-yard
punt return by Pacman Jones put the game out of reach in the 3rd Quarter. A
week later the Titans came out flat as they trailed the New York Giants at home
21-0 in the 4th Quarter. However, the Titans would show fans that there was no
quit in their team as they scored 24 unanswered points to stun the Giants 24-21,
as Pacman Jones intercepted a pass by Eli Manning in the final minute to set
the game winning field goal. The Titans used the momentum of that win to
stun the Indianapolis Colts 20-17 the following week at LP Field as Rob Bironas
nailed a game winning 60-yard field goal as time expired. A week later Vince
Young returned to his hometown Houston to show Texans fans just what got away,
leading the Titans to their fourth straight win with a 39-yard Touchdown run in
overtime 26-20. Suddenly the Titans were the hottest team in football as they
climbed to .500 with a 24-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The streak appeared
to be on the verge of ending the following week as they trailed the Buffalo
Bills 29-20 on the road in the 4th Quarter. However, the never say die Titans
rallied again for a 30-29 win with Bironas again kicking the game winner. With
an outside chance of making the playoffs the Titans ended the season with a game
against the New England Patriots. However, the Pats looking to finish the season
strong jumped out to a big lead and never looked back, as the Titans finished
the season with an 8-8 record, as Vince Young was named Offensive Rookie of
the Year. However, not all news was good news for the Titans, as Pacman Jones,
would find himself in legal hot water for his involvement in a nightclub shooting
in Las Vegas. With a history of arrests, Jones became the poster child for
out of control NFL players, and was made an example of by Commissioner Roger Goodell
who suspended him the entire 2007 season.
2007: Despite early struggles from Vince Young the Titans got off to a solid start backed
by a strong defense, winning three of their first four games. Their only during
this period came in Week 2 when they were beaten by the reigning Super Bowl
Champion Indianapolis Colts 22-20. Vince Young would suffer a knee injury in Week
6 as the Titans were beaten by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-10 in a hard fought
defensive battle on the road. Facing the Houston Texans with back up Kerry
Collins, the Titans again played strong building a 32-7 lead. However a furious
Texans comeback had the Titans on the ropes, as the Texans scored four touchdowns
in the fourth quarter to take a 36-35 lead with 57 seconds left. However, facing
3rd and 10 Kerry Collins who had a solid game hit Roydell Williams on a 46-yard
pass to set Rob Bironas up for a game winning 29-yard field goal. The kick
was also a record as Bironas nailed eight during the game. Vince Young would
return one week later but struggled badly completing just 6-of-14 passes for 42
yards. Fortunately LenDale White had a career day; rushing for 133 yards as the
Titans beat the Oakland Raiders 13-9. A week later Young struggled again, but
the Titans continued to win with defense, beating the Carolina Panthers 20-7.
However, at 6-2 the Titans were about to hit a road bump, as they dropped their
next three games. Vince Young's slump would end a week later as he passed for
248 yards with two touchdowns to beat the Texans 28-20. Leading the San Diego
Chargers 17-3 in the fourth quarter the Titans were stunned on the road as the
Chargers rallied to win in overtime 23-17 putting the Titans playoff hopes on the
ropes. Needing a win desperately the Titans marched into Kansas City and beat
the Chiefs 26-17, as Vince Young had a strong game with 191 yards passing and
two touchdowns without throwing an interception. However, a week later the Titans
nearly let it slip away at home, as the Titans barely beat the 4-12 New York
Jets 10-6, as the defense saved the day with six sacks led by Kyle Vaden Boch
who took down Jets QB Chad Penning three times. At 9-6 the Titans still needed
a win in their final game to secure a playoff spot. The bad news it was in Indianapolis,
but the good news the Colts had nothing to play for as they rested up
for the playoffs with Peyton Manning just playing in one series. The Titans would
take full advantage winning 16-10 as Rob Bironas was the difference again
with three key field goals in the second half. In the playoffs the Titans faced
the Chargers again, this time in San Diego. For much of the first half the Titans
dominated the game, but they could not take full advantage of great field position
and only held a 6-0 lead at halftime. In the second half the Chargers would
come alive, scoring 17 unanswered points to beat the Titans 17-6.
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